Horton Plaza park expansion begins with crash

Watch video of history of Horton Plaza park, produced by Westfield Group (click above). Also at minute 12:00 see the
KPBS
report with video of the symbolic start to demolition.

Horton Plaza park, the center of downtown for nearly 150 years, passed another milestone Thursday as demolition began on one of its modern additions.

As hundreds gathered around the park's historic fountain, a bulldozer pulled down a section of the former Robinson's-May department store facing Broadway.

By spring 2014 the 130,000-square-foot building will be replaced by a 1.3-acre urban park incorporating the old park and fountain.

"It is highly unusual that we have essentially relinquished retail (space)," said Bill Hecht, senior executive vice president of U.S. development of mall owner Westfield Group. "It is the first time in the U.S. and I think globally where we have done this type of transaction."

But he said the result will be a "world-class park" comparable to similar spaces in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Portland, Ore., where Horton's redesign team Walker Macy is from.

"This is one of the most special places in San Diego, Horton Plaza park," said Councilman Kevin Faulconer, who represents the downtown area and MCd the groundbreaking. "We had an opportunity to do something better."

Ironically, the Robinson's building originally was to be the centerpiece of Horton Plaza shopping center, developed by Ernest W. Hahn and opened in 1985.

"We called it the 'Cadillac' building," recalled Frank Wolden, a one-time redevelopment planner on the project, who said its original boxy look was souped up to attract shoppers. "What were we thinking?"

In the 1990s as shopping habits changed, Robinson's vacated the location and Planet Hollywood restaurant occupied the building for a few years. Then it, too, departed with no major retailers interested in replacing it.

Meanwhile, Horton Plaza park, set aside by downtown founder Alonzo E. Horton in 1870 to serve guests at his hotel, later replaced by the U.S. Grant Hotel, became a hangout for the homeless, which the city combated by removing grass and benches.

Four years ago, the fountain, designed famed San Diego architect Irving J. Gill, who also redesigned the park in 1910 into its present configuration, ceased functioning and was fenced off.

To solve the Robinson's and park problems, Westfield and the city agreed to demolish that building and create a new $14.6 million urban plaza. Westfield will manage and program the space for 25 years.

In the bargain, the mall operator returned to the building site to the city and the city gave up its annual profit-sharing agreement, worth about $2 million annually.

Thursday's event was rife with nostalgia and hopes for the future.

"It's a neighborhood that is shared by all the wonderful neighborhoods of this city," said former Mayor Pete Wilson. "That's exactly what we had in mind -- a vibrant heart for the entire region."

Outgoing Mayor Jerry Sanders recalled as a police officer how his fellow officers parked next to the park as they investigated illicit crimes in underground bathrooms and around the seedy X-rated-movie theaters where the Robinson's building now sits.

"We're entering a new phase of the park's history," Sanders said. "I think we're going to see some great things happening in this park over the next decade."

And Mayor-elect Bob Filner, who takes office Monday, added, "Horton park in this century is going to spark a whole new renaissance and a sense of who we are as a city."

Also looking to the future were Bruce Coons, executive director of the Save Our Heritage Organisation, and Gary Smith, president of the San Diego Downtown Residents Group, who spoke of the items that will go into a time capsule to be opened in 50 years.

Five-year-old Ivan Ramirez and Brian Perez, kindergartners from Burbank Elementary in Logan Heights, joined the VIPs on the temporary stage next to the Horton fountain to place their drawings in the metal box to be buried in the enlarged plaza.

The time capsule also is to include an iPod shuffle with today's top 40 tunes loaded into it -- though it's a good guess that few will remember today's No. 1 hit, Rihanna's "Diamonds," or know how to operate the shuffle in 2064.

A bronze plaque honoring Wilson, Sanders and other officials involved with Horton Plaza over the years, was unveiled in advance of its being installed in the enlarged park beside a 1940 plaque honoring Horton.

However, the event was not totally devoid of public spirited congratulations.

Westfield's Hecht could not help but encourage a little shopping in the face of efforts to avoid a new recession that might come if Congress does not act to delay planned tax increases and spending cuts.

"Don't worry about the fiscal cliff," he said. "Shop long and hard as much as you can. We have lots of good product out there, so please open your wallets."